Project Number: 5352-22000-017-21
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Sep 01, 2006
End Date: Aug 31, 2009

Objective:
To isolate and identify sex pheromone of the pear psylla and understand mating and host finding behavior. Ultimate project objective is to provide pear growers with monitoring techniques for the pear psylla, a key pest of pear.

Approach:
We will use a suite of behavioral assays, electroantennography, volatile collections, and GC-MS techniques to determine physiological and environmental parameters controlling psylla reproductive behavior, develop assays for chemical attractants, characterize the odor profile of psylla and pear foliage, and isolate and identify pheromone and possibly host kairomone compounds. Identified chemical attractants may need to be synthesized and purified, if not commercially available. Subsequent work will then focus on controlled release dispensers or lures, and use of the attractant in traps. Documents Reimbursable with NRI. Log 29982.